Creation of posts of CPS, PS approved
Chandigarh, January 27
The Haryana Council of Ministers, which met under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, here today, gave ex post facto approval to the decision of the state government to create one post of Chief Parliamentary Secretary and seven posts of Parliamentary Secretary.

Kidwai sees big role for Haryanvis in nation’s growth
Rewari, January 27
The Haryana Governor, Dr A.R. Kidwai, unfurled the national flag at a state level Republic Day function in the Rao Tula Ram stadium here yesterday. He also took the salute from a joint parade of the Haryana Armed Police contingent, NCC cadets, girl guides and others.

Help students exploit potential, Kidwai to teachers
Rohtak, January 27
Haryana Governor Dr A.R.
Kidwai said today that India could be a developed nation by 2015 and a
superpower by 2050. Addressing the faculty of Maharshi Dayanand
University here he said Indian universities could hasten this process by
producing our future leaders in frontiers of knowledge.

Haryana emerging top state,
says minister
Ambala, January 27
A Republic Day parade was held at Police Lines, Ambala city, yesterday. Haryana minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha unfurled the national flag. An impressive march past comprising contingents of the Police, Home Guard, National Cadet Corps and Scouts and Guides was held.

Surajkund mela may be
held round the year
Chandigarh, January 27
The Haryana Minister of State for Tourism, Ms Kiran Choudhary, today said she had plans to transform the Surajkund crafts mela into a round-the-year affair.

Students perform a dance as part of Republic Day celebrations in
Ambala on Thursday.
— Tribune photo by Neeraj Chopra

Police medal for 9 Haryana cops
Chandigarh, January 27
Four personnel of the Haryana Police have been awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry while another five have been awarded the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service on the occasion of the 57th Republic Day.

Retirement age raised
Chandigarh, January 27
The Haryana Council of Ministers, which met here today under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, decided to raise the age of retirement of disabled state government employees to 60 from 58.

Farm coop societies to be restructured
Chandigarh, January 27
The Haryana Government will restructure primary agricultural cooperative societies in the state to make these viable and pull these out of the red. This was decided at a meeting of the Council of Ministers here today.

INLD MLA’s gunman held for murder
Sonepat, January 27
The Gohana Sadar police has arrested Ravinder gunman of INLD MLA Ram Phal Chidana, who allegedly shot dead Narender of Israna village and injured Hem Raj also of Israna in Panipat district by firing at them from his service revolver near Chidana village on the Panipat-Rohtak road on January 25 night.

Robbers strike at 6 shops
Ambala, January 27
Robbers struck at six shops near Capital Chowk last night. The thieves entered the shops after removing airconditioners from the rear wall of the shops. While in one shop some goods were damaged, in another the thieves attempted to set goods on fire.

Village without power for 10 days
Sonepat, January 27
Mahipur village has been without power for the past 10 days following the snapping of high voltage cable.
The residents have protested against the indifferent attitude of a junior engineer of the UHBVN by staging demonstration in front of the office at Farmana
village and demanded suspension of the JE who had failed to get the power cable repaired.

Chandigarh, January 27
The Haryana Council of Ministers (COM), which met under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, here today, gave ex post facto approval to the decision of the state government to create one post of Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and seven posts of Parliamentary Secretary (PS). It also approved the government step of laying down the procedure of their appointment, including fixing their salary and amendment to the Rules of Business of the government to create space for their functioning.

The COM, according to an official press note issued here, felt it was not possible to run all departments with the limited number of ministers prescribed by the Constitution. “It has become necessary to create one post of Chief Parliamentary Secretary and seven posts of Parliamentary Secretary to assist ministers and the Chief Minister in their functioning”, the press note said.

A sitting MLA would be considered for appointment as CPS or PS. The Chief Minister was empowered to make appointments to these eight posts and determine the salary and allowances payable to the incumbents. They would hold office at the pleasure of the government and be administered the oath of office by the Chief Minister.

The COM approved a proposal of the Department of Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes to enhance the amount of government guarantee to Rs 15 crore for obtaining loans by the Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Kalyan Nigam from the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation.

The COM reviewed the annual administrative report on the working of the Rajya Sainik Board for 2004-05.

The COM approved a proposal of the Revenue Department to sell and transfer a piece of land measuring over 15 acres to the Municipal Council, Hansi, for the installation of a treatment plant for solid waste management. The scheme would be executed within a period of one and a half years by the civil body.

Rewari, January 27
The Haryana Governor, Dr A.R. Kidwai, unfurled the national flag at a state level Republic Day function in the Rao Tula Ram stadium here yesterday. He also took the salute from a joint parade of the Haryana Armed Police contingent, NCC cadets, girl guides and others.

Paying homage to the countless known and unknown martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country, Dr Kidwai said it was due to their sufferings and sacrifices that the country had now ushered in a glorious era of freedom and prosperity.

Mentioning the significant role played by great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chander Bose, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, he said it was a matter of pride that after Independence the country had made remarkable progress in the domains of agriculture, industries, information technology, communication and several other fields of development during the past six decades. Eulogising India’s first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru as an architect of modern India, he said the education policy drafted and introduced by him was now paying rich dividends much to our pride and satisfaction that Indian scientists, doctors, engineers and technologists were in great demand in various countries, including America.

Referring to Haryana, the Governor said owing to the concerted Herculean efforts put in by lakhs of our farmers, workers, youths and others, the state, notwithstanding its comparative smallness, had now been adjudged the topmost state of the country. Besides, Haryana’s contribution in the country’s aggregated exports of superior quality Rice now enviably stood at 80 per cent.

Simultaneously as many as 40 out of a total of 300 multinational companies were now operating in the Gurgaon- Faridabad region of the state. He congratulated the people of Haryana for transforming it into one of the leading developed states of the country.

Explaining why he chose Rewari to host the state level Republic Day function, the Governor said it was something remarkable that with its 25,000 serving soldiers and nearly 40,000 ex-servicemen it was undoubtedly a great contributor in the defence preparedness of the country.

He said in addition to the existing war memorial the state government was also going to set up a war museum here.

Expressing delight at the colourful physical -cum- cultural programme presented by school children on the occasion, the Governor said it was simply superlative in comparison to the ones he had earlier witnessed in other districts of the state. He announced a financial reward of Rs 1.51 lakh for the participants.

The Governor also honoured 65 freedom fighters while he distributed sewing machines to 122 war widows, tri-cycles to 48 disabled persons and prizes to meritorious students, distinguished employees, brave children and other distinguished participants.

Rohtak, January 27
Haryana Governor Dr A.R.
Kidwai said today that India could be a developed nation by 2015 and a
superpower by 2050.

Addressing the faculty of Maharshi Dayanand
University here he said Indian universities could hasten this process by
producing our future leaders in frontiers of knowledge. He said MDU
being near Delhi had the potential to excel and emerge as a leading
varsity.

Dr Kidwai said Indian scientists, engineers, software
experts, economists, management consultants and academicians playing
great role in the new globalised economic scenario. He said India’s
advantage lay in the fact that the nation had the largest scientific and
technical manpower in the world. In this regard, India had an edge over
China, he said.

He called upon teachers to play pro-active role to help
students achieve their potential. He gave a call to raise standards of
education so that India could compete globally. The Chancellor held met
faculty members also.

Later, Dr Kidwai laid
the foundation stone of Advanced Centre for Bio-Technology. Dr Dhankar
said the Centre for Bio- Technology would serve as a biotechnology
incubator and provide research and development facilities for
manufacturers.

Jind, January 27
A regional centre of Kurukshetra University will be set up in Jind for providing educational facilities to people of this region.

This was announced by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, while delivering his message to the people on the occasion of Republic Day at the Local Government Post-Graduate College here yesterday. The Chief Minister unfurled the national flag and took the salute after inspecting the guard of honour presented by contingents of security forces.

Ambala, January 27
A Republic Day parade was held at Police Lines, Ambala city, yesterday. Haryana minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha unfurled the national flag. An impressive march past comprising contingents of the Police, Home Guard, National Cadet Corps and Scouts and Guides was held.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Chatha said Haryana was fast emerging as the number one state in the country with the
implementation of a number of innovative schemes and programmes for the welfare of all sections of society.

Mr Chatha paid glowing tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for making the country free from the yoke of British imperialism. He said in a short span of 10 months, the Haryana Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had implemented a number of welfare schemes.

He said programmes and policies that had been initiated for social, economic and educational upliftment had infused a new life in the people of the state. Haryana was the first state in the country to have announced a comprehensive labour policy to ensure the welfare of workers.

He said a dynamic new industrial policy had also been implemented for the development of the industrial sector.

Chandigarh, January 27
The Haryana Minister of State for Tourism, Ms Kiran Choudhary, today said she had plans to transform the Surajkund crafts mela into a round-the-year affair.

Addressing a press conference here, Ms Choudhary, who was sworn in as a Minister on January 14, said during a visit to Athens she was amazed to discover that even small ruins of ancient structures were promoted as tourist attractions by the authorities in Greece. She said something similar could be done at Surajkund as well. Asked whether she would like to re-enact the concept of the Delhi Hut at Surajkund, Ms Choudhary said it would be on a much bigger scale.

The Tourism Minister said at this year’s festival at Surajkund, all SAARC countries would have exhibits. Afghanistan would also be represented in the festival.

She said she had already taken note of the low revenue generation by Haryana Tourism complexes and the loss being made by the Haryana Tourism Corporation. She would see to it that the complexes became “money spinners”. She added that if necessary she would not hesitate to ask for the investment of private capital also to revive the complexes.

Ms Choudhary said the concept of highway tourism pioneered by Haryana would be implemented near the proposed express highway also. Special tourism zones would be carved out near the proposed road running through Kundli, Manesar and Palwal, she said.

Ms Choudhary, who also has the Culture portfolio, said Haryana had a rich culture though it had never been promoted properly. She said her endeavour would be to support the traditional Haryanavi cultural forms and help in their development.

Ms Choudhary, who is also the Minister of State for Forests, said she would ensure that the plantation of saplings for afforestation became a reality. “I am told that while on paper saplings are shown to have been planted, this does not actually happen”, she said. She said she would come down heavily on officials who fudged figures just for the sake of “achieving” targets.

Chandigarh, January 27
Four personnel of the Haryana Police have been awarded the Police Medal for Gallantry while another five have been awarded the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service on the occasion of the 57th Republic Day.

Constable Sabal Singh, Head Constable Ashok Kumar, Constable (upgraded) Randhir Singh and Head Constable
(exemptee) Ram Kishan have been decorated for gallantry. The last two awards were posthumous.

Chandigarh, January 27
The Haryana Council of Ministers, which met here today under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, decided to raise the age of retirement of disabled state government employees to 60 from 58.

The age of retirement of visually challenged employees is already 60. Today’s decision will benefit other categories of employees with at least 70 per cent disability.

Chandigarh, January 27
The Haryana Government will restructure primary agricultural cooperative societies (PACS) in the state to make these viable and pull these out of the red. This was decided at a meeting of the Council of Ministers here today.

The objective of the exercise is to integrate the credit and marketing functions to increase the size and business of the PACS to make these financially viable and ensure better management and efficiency. The Department of Cooperation will work out the modalities for the restructuring.

Sonepat, January 27
The Gohana Sadar police has arrested Ravinder gunman of INLD MLA Ram Phal Chidana, who allegedly shot dead Narender of Israna village and injured Hem Raj also of Israna in Panipat district by firing at them from his service revolver near Chidana village on the Panipat-Rohtak road on January 25 night.

According to information, MLA along with his gunman Ravinder was returning to Gohana on January 25. When the MLA and gunman were taking meals at roadside dhaba near Israna, they were joined by the victims claimed to be known to the gunman.

They reportedly consumed liquor at the dhaba and proceeded to Gohana. However, near Chidana village, gunman and Narender picked up some quarrel and they reportedly came out of the MLA’s car. Hem Raj who reportedly was driving the other car also intervened.

The gunman allegedly fired at them from his service revolver and fled from the spot. In the firing, Narender reportedly died on the spot and Hem Raj in a serious condition was brought to Gohana Civil Hospital and was referred to PGIMS, Rohtak.

Ambala, January 27
Robbers struck at six shops near Capital Chowk last night.

The thieves entered the shops after removing airconditioners from the rear wall of the shops. While in one shop some goods were damaged, in another the thieves attempted to set goods on fire.

The shops where the robbery took place were New Age graphics, Mani Ice Cream, Chander Dental Clinic, Amar Type Centre, Baldev Singh & Co and Manoj Brothers. In Amar Type Centre, which is run by former Cantonment Board member Prithvi Singh Tetarwal, thieves set revenue papers on fire.

It is suspected that a gang is active in the Ambala Sadar area which tries to set vehicles or goods on fire when they do not manage to steal. Vehicles have been set on fire in Mahesh Nagar area earlier.

Sonepat, January 27
Mahipur village has been without power for the past 10 days following the snapping of high voltage cable.

The residents have protested against the indifferent attitude of a junior engineer of the UHBVN by staging demonstration in front of the office at Farmana
village and demanded suspension of the JE who had failed to get the power cable repaired. Instead he had threatened the residents if they held a demonstration in future. The residents alleged that all their complaints made to the authorities concerned in this regard have fallen on deaf ears.